_The marriage adventure took place on Tuesday, November 29, 2011. But it truly began the day before, on Monday when they... no, actually it began on Sunday when he picked her up at the airport bearing precious gifts...well, probably Saturday when she ventured off to Africa to meet her one true love...

or perhaps on Friday when she packed and weighed the last, last bag…

back and back and back.

But truth be told, it did begin here at Refilwe nearly four years ago.When everything had been said and done, it made so much sense to mark the official beginning of their married life right here.But that was not the initial plan.

_The plan was to travel to the Department of Home Affairs in a certain city at an appointed time on Tuesday afternoon, pay the necessary fee, sign the proper papers, and without further ado to become a married couple.The two of them spent the day Monday, as planned, traveling to the US embassy, the Dept. of Home Affairs, and various other offices, making sure all the paperwork was in order, and basically preparing the way for a simple, no-hassle marriage certificate the next day. (I thought of it as their unconventional version of wedding rehearsal.)

_ But it was not to be.Although the jetlag tired girl stood before the official with her proper identity information and her correctly stamped passport, it was "not possible" to verify her presence in the country so of course getting married was out of the question!"Come back in a week or so," the unhelpful person suggested. Talking and negotiating made no changes in the outcome, nor did numerous additional stops and phone calls.The weary two who returned home late Monday evening barely resembled the pair who had set out with such high energy and enthusiasm earlier in the day.What to do now, that was the question.

_We ate our lentil stew in stunned silence, trying to absorb all that had (not) happened. Bit by bit, the story was told, the exhausted couple tried to look at new options for the coming day. What to do, what to do... Nothing seemed clear. A few possibilities were tossed on the table, but they just sat there. None stood out as brimming with potential. Those who know me best know I like to weigh pros and cons, talk through various scenarios, and come up with a plan. But this moment was different. It became very clear to me that this was not my problem to solve. I probably couldn't come up with the right solution anyway, and it didn't matter because I didn't need to do that. For me, this was an "ah-ha" moment.

God will make a way where there seems to be no way, He works in ways we cannot see, He will make a way for me…There they were, in my head, the words of the little chorus by Don Moen that I've loved for a decade (or two?!) I remember quite clearly driving to piano lessons down a Pennsylvania valley one day, my heart aching with an especially knotty foster parenting problem, and Joseph reminded me, "Mom, God will make a way…"Now it was my turn.I spoke the words, "God will make a way, when there seems to be no way…" it was not my problem, not really their problem; it was God's opportunity to lead, to make a way, to create something better than any of us could have imagined.We prayed together and agreed to meet again in the morning to look at the next step.We went our separate ways, quietly, somberly. Thoughts were chattering in my head – "surely we had not come all this way to miss the actual event…maybe we could …oops, not gonna go there... God will make a way. Rest, rest, rest in that truth." And I did. I fell asleep thinking those words, and when I awoke throughout the night, I would simply say to myself, "God will make a way."

_Morning came; I watched them on the steps, heads together, talking, talking, shooing ants, talking.They came in to the living room having made a decision.They would not spend another fruitless day chasing papers and forms. We would simply have their marriage in their new home across the river.They would write vows and speak them to each other; I would write a prayer of blessing; Papa Max would bring words from the Word, and pronounce them "one." Heads nodded all around, yes, this is what we would do. God had made a way.

_and headed off to the recently prepared rooms across the river. We had a parade with one entry...

_But first, it was moving day! Joseph and Meredith rounded up the tractor, wagon, and a few crates, and the moving began. We loaded up all of Joseph and Meredith's worldly goods...

Those handywoman skills came in...handy!

I know, socks in crocs. My toes requested this.

Of course, there were some adventures along the way...

_Joseph is telling a guy with a weed whacker, "Hey, don't do that right here right now, it'll throw grass all over everything..." which of course it did!

_How is it that no one saw this chair fall off?? (And was this Mama guarding it or waiting to see if anyone claimed it?)

_ Max had the camera and wouldn't quit so Joseph called him "Papa- razzi;" there may have been threats of bodily harm…

_Two loads later, the deed was done, and unpacking was underway.It was a memorable time, and the day was far from over.But suddenly, everyone was exhausted. It was time to take a break, change gears, relax, refresh, prepare for the next step in this unforgettable day.For me, the next step involved ironing a very lovely linen dress which had been safely sequestered in a (very small!) zip lock bag for a few days! I headed back across the river one more time to find what I needed for the job, and although the electric managed to go off midway...

...I was able to flatten most of the wrinkles into oblivion.

_Suitcases were unpacked and repacked for the honeymoon,

she was radiant (and barefoot!), _

he was ready (and barefoot!) It was time!

Max spoke words from the Word for each of them, for Joseph from Genesis 49 and for Meredith from Mary's song of joyful praise in Luke 1.

Together they braided the cord of three strands, Joseph's strand dark brown, the color of the earth, Meredith's strand purely, simply white, and the golden strand of God to intertwine, connect, strengthen the bond which none shall break. _

_

I read my prayerwords of blessing and release for these two setting out toward eternity on a single path. _

Vows were read, heard, received, words binding two lives into one.

_

___There were tears and feathers (no birdseed or rice, no shoes either) and heartfelt chuckles, and of course, a kiss.

_"I now pronounce you…." and it was finished.Or, begun.

_God had made a way.Looking back, we could see the beautiful threads with which He was weaving the tapestry of their lives right up to this day, this moment, this place.And looking forward?The same will be true.God will make a way.

When all was said and done, we all agreed it was much the better way, much truer to who J. and M are as individuals and as a couple. I think of it as another example of God's creative grace, helping it to happen His way for their sakes. And this is why I want to keep trusting Him even when I can't see what He's doing.

Leave a Reply.

Author

I'm finding my way beyond the maze of the "middle" years (if I'm gonna be 100 and something someday...) ​living life as a country woman who is a writer, gardener, wife, mom, nature observer, teacher,and most of all a much loved child of God.